Brownlee must reassure over asbestos

Gerry Brownlee must address the concerns
around asbestos raised by Canterbury’s chief medical
officer and get as much information as possible into the
public domain rapidly to provide reassurance for
Cantabrians, says Labour’s EQC spokesperson Clayton
Cosgrove.

“Gerry Brownlee is unable to confirm
whether or not a review is under way. He needs to cut the
bluster and get an investigation underway immediately.

“If it’s good enough for the chief medical officer
for Canterbury to be concerned, it should be good enough for
Gerry Brownlee.

“Labour has obtained a briefing
note from EQC to Gerry Brownlee showing that in May 2013 EQC
was aware that it had poor records for asbestos and no
coherent strategy for testing. [Briefing note attached, see
para 12]

“Nothing appears to have been done
since.

“It is incredible that no one is able to
say how many damaged homes may have created exposure to
asbestos and that in some cases no processes were in place
until last year.

“Labour has previously called for
an asbestos register of affected houses in Christchurch.

“Gerry Brownlee is unable to provide a straight answer
to the people of Christchurch on asbestos exposure. His
approach is, as usual, far too combative to provide any
answers. Cantabrians have had enough.

“Residents
and rebuild workers have every right to be concerned that
they may have been exposed to asbestos. They must be
reassured as soon as they possibly can,” says Clayton
Cosgrove.

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